I know this topic has been discussed a lot, but I wanted to post my experience for a specific reason. A lot of the posts out there about Hemorrhoidectomy recovery are very very scary, and rightfully so. Not everyone, however, has that same horrible time with this surgery so I wanted to post my experience thus far (still ongoing).
I am a healthy 29 year old male, but had a very large external hemorrhoid that just wouldnt go away, and the doctor recommended surgery. I had the procedure done two days ago. Everything people say about the pain afterwards is true, its pretty rough. The first night I did not sleep one wink, and the pain meds simply took the edge off but didnt relieve the pain. The worst part was feeling the pressure packing that they jammed up there to keep the wounds from bleeding. I couldnt wait to rip those out the following morning.
Morning after and next day, I took out the gauze and started sitz bathing, which really does help temporarily relieve the pain! I can manage to walk around a little and get myself stuff to eat as well. The most important thing I can advise is do everything in your power to avoid constipation. I started stool softeners 3 days before surgery, am drinking fiber, eating healthy (apples, veggies, etc), but the pain killers and anasthetic still made my first BM a little tough. Actually going to the bathroom didnt hurt my wounds that much, but because I had to push so hard to pass the hard stool it was a little painful. I had my first BM this morning (2 days after) and I'm doing ok. Here is the crazy part, I am actually getting on a plane in about 4 hours. 2 hour flight, I have a ride to the airport who is going to handle all my bags. Its going to hurt like hell and the pain meds are my best friend, but I dont want to miss this flight.
I guess I just want to pass some encouragement. It does hurt, but the experience isnt going to kill everyone out there. To me, not having to worry about that hemorrhoid any more is going to be worth the recovery. I'll let everyone know how I do after the flight. Im just parking it on a bed for the next 3 days afterwards, so I just have to push through about 4 hours more of pain.
Update for everyone. I did the two hour flight two days after my surgery. Pain pills were my friend, I actually didnt do too bad with the flight. The last half hour or so and drive hom e from the airport were rough just from being up all day, but I made it. I'm on day 4 now of the recovery and the worst part has been the hard bowel movements due to the pain medicine. Day 3 I went all day without taking a pain pill and now I am off them completely. I had a very hard bowel movement day 3 where I actually needed some Milk of Magnesia to help get my system going. There was much more bleeding than usual, but now day 4 I have gotten all of the hard stool out and I am starting to become regular/soft again. Again, I think my recovery has gone very well and Id like to encourage those who are considering the surgery that not everyone has the horror stories you hear about, even though this is no recovery to take lightly.
thanks for the first positive post-operative experience I've read, since i started furiously reading posts on this topic. I'm scheduled for surgery 12/17, and intend to take 4 weeks off, at the direction of my specialist. I'm about ready to cancel, after reading all of the horrible side effects. not having control of my body...frightens me more than anything. I am considering living with stage 3 and 4 internal/external H's, and NOT going through with a 3 quad hemmorhoidectomy. How are you feeling now? any other symptoms that have arisen since your last post? shooting pains, drainage, involuntary or uncontrolable issues? thanks.
Last edited by hoodster95; 11-29-2008 at 04:31 PM.
Reason: typo, and mityped info
I am nearing day 6 of my recovery and am still doing pretty well. I still have no need for pain killers, but the area is still a little sore and constantly "tight" feeling. I will be going back to work on Monday and should be able to manage but I suspect it will be a good 2 weeks more before I feel completely back to normal, but the worst is definitely over. After dropping the pain pills on day 3 my bowel movements have gotten completely back to normal. I go once a day in the morning, and its fairly soft. I'm not even taking the stool softeners at the moment. Pretty much all I do is sit around, take a sitz bath several times a day and re apply gauze (It still bleeds/leaks very slightly which is supposedly normal). At this point the only big inconvenience is the bowel movements. They don't hurt actually going, but it does leave the area tender afterwards. Hopping in a bath afterwards and then relaxing is quick relief but going back to work Monday thats my main concern, I wont be able to do the bath thing any more.
As for you, if your hemorroids are as bad as you say, I must imagine they are affecting your life yes? The recovery for your surgery will be painful, but if you already have set aside a good 4 weeks of recovery then I would definitely go forward with it. My one larger hemorrhoid was actually becoming less painful (but still large) at the time of my surgery and Id still do it again. Its gone, things are totally gone down there. My biggest and most important piece of advice is to do everything in your power to find a pain killer that doesnt affect your bowel movements too much, and try to get off medicine as fast as you can and tough it out. Use them just for sleep if you can, and live in a sitz bath during the day.
awesome advice. thank you, I'm very happy to hear you have done so well. did you have anyone to help you around for the first few days?
well my current condition IS affecting my daily life, but it passes and then flairs up if you can relate to this... i'm fine for a week or two, then something happens...working to much around the yard or house,,,stress, or diarrhea, and I also have motorcyling as my hobby and life's enjoyment...it's not horrible, but i do suffer the consequences of a 200 mile ride or more in one day, and well, if it is bad enough to go to the initial evaluation, then it's bad enough...right? i just don't know if i'll be like YOU, and everything goes FINE, or miserable and regret ever doing it.
take care, and i so appreciate your quick response. I was so shocked to see all the negatives, and yours being only the first 'ok-not-so-bad" experience I've read thus far.
send any and all updates, I'll be watching. peace.
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